Anastasia lay in her bed. She wasn't prepared to face today. It should just be like any other day. But it wasn't.
Today was the one year anniversary since Vlad left.
She shouldn't call it an anniversary. That sounds too nice. Maybe observance. Annual happening.
Not anniversary.
They still haven't heard a single word from Vlad. No calls. No visits. No letters. He wasn't even talking to his college friends. She still talked to Vlad's college friends more than he did. Vlad just simply didn't seem to exist anymore.
Anastasia slowly pulled herself out of bed. She ran her hands over her face and stood up, carrying a worn out turtle and raggedy teddy bear with her.
She headed into the kitchen and started cooking up her and Vlad's favorite Saturday morning breakfast. Strawberry pancakes and eggs. The smell filled the air and she felt a pang in her heart.
Once it was done cooking she took her stuffed animals and sat on the floor in front of the tv and turned on Scooby Doo. It wasn't as fun to watch anymore, especially after their own nasty encounter with a malevolent spirit, but she kept watching for a couple hours for the sake of nostalgia.
Anastasia heard her mom creaking down the stairs and stood up to wash her dishes. Before her mother could see her she walked out the rickety screen door into the backyard. Their playground was starting to crumble and some of the frog statues were falling apart. No ones really kept up with the garden in the time since Vlad's accident. It made the whole house look lifeless. Abandoned.
Stuffing her hands in her pockets, Anastasia started walking down the road. After a couple twists and shortcuts, she found herself on Raven Road in front of the haunted, abandoned house.
She headed up to the porch and walked inside, dread filling her stomach already. Goosebumps appeared on her arms and made her hair stand on end.
That ghost was still here.
As she walked around and eventually made it to the second floor, the ghost failed to find her. She kept wandering until she came upon a slightly ajar door with echoing voices coming from behind it. She pressed her ear to the crack and listened.
"It's just… Today is a really hard day. I'd been planning on coming back and apologizing but he is trying to stop me. He just wants wealth, fame, revenge. It doesn't want to forgive and amend."
Anastasia's brows furrowed. What was this guy talking about?
"I came here because I know your afterlife isn't… The best. I was wondering if you had any advice for me."
"Our obsession's are nearly impossible to ignore. Many ghosts feel uncontrollable rage when something changes or when they can't fulfill their obsession. Those who can't fall into a deep spiral."
Ghosts? Was that Old Man McConald?
She heard a soft smack and a huff of frustration.
"I know. I've been trying to stay away from the other two because I'm afraid of what will happen when I finally see them again."
"But you're not like the rest of us. We don't know exactly how your obsession will work. Maybe it will adapt, maybe you'll be strong enough to ignore it. Maybe not."
A sigh. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, old man."
"I'm just saying, that maybe-"
Anastasia sneezed as some dust floated into her nose and the conversation in the next room stopped. Ice filled her veins and she began to panic as she backed up from the door.
The floorboards began to shake and the door between her and the ghosts slammed open, revealing Old Man McConald and a young blue specter with spikey black hair.
The younger ghosts eyes widened when he saw her. He tried to say something to Old Man McConald, but the older ghost was already preparing to strike. Anastasia began to run.
She ran down the hall and threw herself over the banister onto the stairs, running and panting until she made it outside into the sun where she knew the ghost couldn't follow. She collapsed on the ground and stared at the front door as tears welled in her eyes. She hit the ground with her fists.
Stupid. Stupid! Why did you think coming here would be a good idea? What kind of closure did you think you were gonna get?
As Anastasia hit the ground, she felt the prickling sensation along her skin grow stronger and she looked up at the younger ghost, who was staring down at her.
"Uh, um. Hi.. Sorry about that." He pointed a thumb over his shoulder at the house. "Mr. McConald has an..uh.. Obsession. That he can't control. That's why he's like that and stuff."
"Obsession?" She whispered.
"Yeah.." He said, folding his arms behind his back. "It's something all ghosts have I guess, to varying degrees."
They stared at each other for a few moments before he cleared his throat and spoke again.
"Can I walk you home? I just… I know that was probably scary and I want to make sure you get home safely."
"Sure.. I guess."
He held a hand down for Anastasia and she took it, pulling herself up. They began the trek home as the sun set.
"So…" He said. "Why were you inside Old Man McConald's house anyways?"
She laughed, a broken sound. "It's stupid."
"I bet it's not."
She snorted. "You bet it is."
A rock was on the path they were taking. Anastasia kicked it and sighed.
"My brother left without telling anyone why, where he was going, or what he was feeling a year ago. I don't know if he's dead or alive and it's been eating at me. I was hoping that I could get a certain kind of closure today but…"
"Didn't work out?" He asked, cocking a brow.
"Nope. It made it worse in fact."
They were silent for a little bit until the ghost replied softly.
"I bet he misses you, though."
"I miss him too."
They walked in silence the last few minutes until they got back home. Anastasia was about to open the screen door when she turned around to face the ghost again.
"What's your name?"
At that the ghosts eyes widened in panic and his gaze darted around and he scratched behind his ear.
"I.. uh. Um. Plasmius?"
Anastasia smiled. "Well, it was nice meeting you, Plasmius. Thank you for being a gentleman and walking me home."
He smiled. "It was my pleasure."
She turned back to the door and headed inside. Leaning against the door, she waited for the prickling sensation in her skin to go away. Once it did, her shoulders sagged and she felt a strange sense of emptiness.
Grabbing her stuffed animals, Anastasia headed back upstairs.